BETHESDA, Md. — Saturday at Congressional was not the first time Tiger Woods has played before so few fans.

There were those 6 a.m. practice rounds at the British Open. Or the occasional PGA Tour event where fans were evacuated because of a thunderstorm and hardly anyone returned at twilight when play resumed.

But teeing off in the late afternoon at the AT&T National, on a steamy but sun-filled day on a fabled course in a golf-mad area like Washington?

Woods had the largest crowd of the day, even though it never topped 100 people. Brendon de Jonge, who had a 2-under 69 to take a one-shot lead, had as many birdies (three) as people in his gallery on a strange, silent Saturday at Congressional.

A violent wind storm overnight that toppled dozens of trees and littered the course with limbs forced tournament officials to keep spectators and all but the essential volunteers away from Congressional for the third round. Considering the amount of debris, it was amazing they even played.

“I’ve played in front of people like this,” Woods said. “But not generally for an 18-hole competitive round.”

Amarillo native Ryan Palmer finished with a 2-under 69 to move into a tie for eighth place, four shots off the lead.

Palmer was even par for the day through 14 holes, but birdies at Nos. 15 and 18 put him in the top 10, as he has a three-day total of 3-under 210.

De Jonge was steady in the sweltering conditions for a third straight round in the 60s, which gave his first 54-hole lead on the PGA Tour. One shot behind were Woods (67), Bo Van Pelt (67) and S.Y. Noh (69).

De Jonge, a South African going for his first PGA Tour win, made his final birdie on the 12th hole with a wedge out of the rough that climbed over a ridge and settled about 12 feet behind the cup. It was worthy of applause, but there was only one person in the gallery to see it — Kandi Mahan, the wife of Hunter Mahan.

Indeed, this was a day like few others on the PGA Tour.

A few volunteers, tournament staff and club members tagged along after Woods, and provided about the only noise of the round. They watched him and Van Pelt get off to a quick start, and then match pars on the back nine to get close to the lead.

“I told Tiger that was a Bo Van Pelt crowd, so I was used to that,” Van Pelt said. “I was very comfortable with 10 or 15 people watching me play golf. No, it was just nice to get it in. I think we’re all fortunate that nobody got hurt out here last night. It’s a credit to the grounds staff that they got this golf course ready. I’m sure if you saw pictures of what it looked like at midnight, the fact that we played golf today is a minor miracle.”

■ Rookie Felibert leads LPGA event: In Rogers, Ark., Veronica Felibert showed plenty of staying power, and then some, in the second round of the LPGA’s NW Arkansas Championship.The rookie from Venezuela shot a 5-under 66 on Saturday to stretch her lead to four strokes.